Ballarat Fuel Prices Soar Amid Middle East Conflict

Fuel prices in Ballarat have surged due to increased demand and costs following the conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz has been shut down, leading to a jump in crude oil prices to over $US90 per barrel.

The price of unleaded petrol at various outlets in Ballarat on March 9 ranged from $1.85 a litre to $2.09, while diesel increased to as high as $2.40 a litre.

Despite the hike, Apco's service stations director Peter Anderson reassured drivers that fuel supplies are secure, stating there isn't currently a physical shortage of fuel in Australia.

Rowan Lee, chief executive of the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, noted that Australia doesn't bring much fuel from the Middle East, but rather from countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and India.